ACROSS
 7. WEST ROENTGEN EAST NITROGEN {the letters around the outside of the solved grid} = WREN <bird>
 8. <encounter> HAPPEN UPON = HAPP[-y] + (ONE PUN)*
10. <&cd> SPEEDING TICKET = {police officer making record of illegal speediness on this}
11. NO (P_R inside BELIZE) = NOBEL PRIZE <award>
13. <Northerner's gander {glance}> SKEG = (.i)SK EG(g.)
14. PEACES* = ESCAPE <jailbreak?>
16. <one crushing> PESTLE = PEST _L _E
19. <fed> G-MAN = GM A_N
21. <add excessive spice to> OVERSEASON = O VERSE AS ON
23. ←EMIT A TAPE← after NOTES* = ONE STEP AT A TIME <without rushing>
25. RED ECO RATE = REDECORATE <wallpaper again?>
26. _E_P_E _E_ = EPEE <poker>

DOWN
 1. (IS SOONER)* = EROSIONS <reductions in bank deposits?>
 2. <sudden expiration> SNEEZE = S NEE Z _E
 3. <dull sound> THUD = _T_ HUD
 4. <has another stab at> REATTEMPTS = _R + EAT TEMPTS
 5. OUT CASTS = OUTCASTS <pariahs>
 6. _EO_ _CE_ _NE_ = EOCENE <when mammals evolved>
 9. <commentator> PUNDIT = DI_ inside PUNT
12. (NO MEN) inside PHONE* = PHENOMENON <event>
15. (AG USD outside N) ←IE← = AGNUS DEI <image of Christ>
17. <leaves> LOOSE TEA = LOO SET + _E A
18. <Indian state> KERALA = ←(.t)AL ARE K(e.)←
20. ←I'M← + TUNE* = MINUET <dance music>
22. <bears> ABIDES = AB + IDES
24. <help with> ABET = [-alph]ABET